Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water Review

A staple product in my skincare routine has been chemical exfoliants and if you’ve been following me then you’ll know I love BHA over AHA. However, I just might have to change my opinion thanks to Wishtrend’s *Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water.

What It Is

In a nutshell, this is an AHA product. Mandelic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid derived from bitter almonds, and has antibacterial properties. This treatment is a hydrating, nonirritating exfoliant that can be used daily on sensitive skin to improve skin tone and texture. Thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties it is also an option for treating acne.

This is available via Wishtrend for $22 and you get 120 ml or 4.1 fl oz of product in a plastic bottle.

Results

You can use this Mandelic Acid Water 2 ways- pat directly into the skin or for extra exfoliation you can saturate a cotton pad and wipe. You must be careful not to use this with other AHA/BHA/Vitamin C products and you have to be mindful of sun exposure so use that sunscreen!

When you first use this, you’ll notice there’s no added fragrance. It smells like your typical BHA/AHA- just a light chemical smell that disappears almost immediately. Its watery, clear formula makes it easy to apply to the skin and leaves it lightly hydrated. I experienced some stinging during initial application so if you have sensitive skin like I do then use this sparingly.

I’ll admit I wasn't expecting much from this treatment, but after my first use I was intrigued. It was like someone took a vacuum to my pores because they were so clean! My skin had a softer look to it, and my pores weren’t as pronounced. I was instantly jazzed! Following the instructions of only using 2-3 times per week, my skin was protesting. Too. Much. Exfoliation. I can only use this once a week max.

During this testing phase, I was also blessed with a nodule and tried treating it with this Mandelic Water, but it didn’t shrink it the same way COSRX’s pimple pads did. Darn. Not bad for treating mild pimples and black/whiteheads though!

Conclusion

I haven’t tried many AHA products, but this one definitely beats Drunk Elephant’s Framboos Serum! I like how effective it is and the price point it’s at. I am more sensitive than others and it was easy to over exfoliate, but I still think it’s a good AHA. I won’t go as far to say it’s the best, but definitely exceeds expectations.

*Wishtrend kindly sent me this product for testing/reviewing purposes only.